Winter Musing

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I wrote most of this this while on a walk yesterday:

Winter Musing

When snowy fields at sunset have turned the world to gold,
Remember truths you must pass on before your heart grows cold:
An empty soul cannot be filled with momentary joys;
A broken heart cannot be fixed with parties, tricks and shiny toys.

Don’t entertain yourselves to death, but reach for higher things,
You do not need to be struck blind or hear an angel’s wings
To witness glory all around in little acts of love,
Appreciate a kindness shown when push has come to shove,

Let the lonely child know there’s a place where he belongs,
Offer words of hope to those whose faith is not as strong:
When darkness overwhelms you and your path is all but gone,
The shadow’s but a passing thing, and you are not alone.

The one who knows your heart and pain,
Who knows your will to rise again,
Who calls the storm cloud and the rain,
Is closer than you know.

So lift your head up strong and proud,
And when before the madding crowd,
Be not afraid to shout aloud,
“In His steps I will go!”

Should they choose to run you through
For staying faithful, pure and true,
Then heaven’s door will be in view,
And joy will overflow.

Boogie Woogie Gospel

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My apologies for the long silence and the low quality of this production; lockdowns and heavy workloads and other factors have conspired to frustrate my efforts to produce something more worthy of those who follow my efforts, and I was restricted to using stock music instead of a commissioned accompaniment as I planned. Still, I hope at least some of you will find it enjoyable and uplifting.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present Boogie Woogie Gospel, inspired by the joyful stylings of Dr K, otherwise known as Brendan Kavanagh.

Boogie Woogie Gospel

The world we live in changes with bewildering speed,
With people ungrateful, hateful, jealous, bitter indeed.
Well, as God is my witness, this musical business
Is just the dose of joy that your soul really needs.

You don’t know me, so don’t throw me and my message away,
Come up near now, so you’ll hear what I’m trying to say.
Be rid of the darkness in your heart,
Turn yourself around with a whole new start,
And start a joyful life on this beautiful day.

A long time ago, a man played a dangerous game,
Brought hope to the poor, the outcast, the sick and the lame;
The corrupted elites looked down on the streets
With jealous fury when the people called out His name.

He’s so holy and so wholly different from them,
Bringing healing, revealing a radical change.
He took their thorniest questions and evil suggestions,
And wowed them with his wisdom, winning every exchange.

Embarrassed by their failure, they saw him as a deadly threat
To their power and position, and so they plotted his death.
They paid one of his friends to betray him,
So they could take him in secret and slay him,
But he used their evil plan to pay all of our debts.

He chose to be tortured and die the way that we deserved,
‘Cause he came to this world to save us, and not to be served;
He offers us life abundant, where our worry and fear are redundant,
Up in his Father’s house, he has our places reserved.

After everything that he’s done for all of us,
I’d say he fully deserves every bit of our trust,
So put your life in his hands,
He’ll give you the strength to stand,
And lead you faithfully to the Promised Land.

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Musical accompaniment: Boogie Woogie Bed by Audionautix, in places cut and pasted, at the end slowed

People Filled with Fear

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This is a song that I wrote in April in a doctor’s waiting room, and one that I hope will soon become very dated. It is sung approximately to the tune of ‘When Daddy Let me Drive’ by Alan Jackson.

People Filled With Fear

Sitting in a room of people filled with fear
Don’t want to let their masks slip or get too near.
Everyone so closed off, it’s no way to live;
Welling up inside me, I want to reach out and give

A little gleam of hope, a little glimpse of truth,
There’s more to life than dying once you lose your youth.
You were made to love, you were made to thrive,
I’m determined to be joyful every day that I’m alive,
There’s no need to despair now, the Father is in charge.

So when the news is scolding us that we’re all doomed,
Remember that our Saviour didn’t stay in his tomb.
Whatever life may throw at us, we have at our side
The mighty Lamb of God who chose us as his bride;

We are filled with hope, we all know the Truth,
We’ve found a secret greater than the fountain of youth.
There’s no need to run, there’s no need to hide,
We have founts of living water welling up inside,
So be bold and courageous, with the Spirit as our guide.

Did You Know? Is Now Released

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As promised, here is a recording of the song I sung to my wife on our nineteenth wedding anniversary, attempting to make it as romantic a moment as possible. I dressed up smartly and had flowers and chocolates waiting for her by her favourite armchair when she came home from her sign language lesson, her brother was hiding upstairs with his car parked around the corner so she wouldn’t notice him being there. As she was looking at the flowers, he came down the stairs strumming the guitar and I began to sing:

You can also listen to the song via the major streaming services, as well as purchase the song for download on amazon, itunes and other online stores.

Did you know?

Did you know, when you go,
In my heart you leave a hole?
My life isn’t full without you,
You’re worth more to me than gold.
When you smile, for a while,
I feel like I can fly;
It’s like heaven’s doors are opened,
For you I’d walk a hundred miles.

My heart is ever open
To you, my precious one;
Every time I bring you joy
It is the greatest prize I’ve won.
The day you said you were mine
I truly came alive;
I can’t imagine how to live
Without you by my side.

All the stars, with their cars,
And their hotel rooms and bars,
Are just wandering empty souls,
They don’t have half the joy that’s ours.
I’m so blessed to possess
A companion on our quest
To raise our children strong enough
To cope with every test

My heart is ever open
To you, my precious one;
Every time I bring you joy
It is the greatest prize I’ve won.
The day you said you were mine
I truly came alive;
I can’t imagine how to live
Without you by my side.

Yet here you are, my shining star,
I love you just as you are.

When You’re Under Attack…

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My apologies, I should have posted this yesterday. It is a song (to the tune of “A Song About Heartbreak” by Daniel Thrasher) about our duty to those that protect us and have given their lives throughout history to keep us free.

When you’re under attack…

When you’re under attack,
Things look so black,
And it seems you might crack;
To get back on track,
And see what your soul lacks,
Take a look back:

Remember the heroes who stood at the gates
When evil clouds gathered, to spare us our fates.
They strengthened each other and stood side by side,
To weather the onslaught and beat back the tide

Of enemy fury, missiles and blades;
Some armoured like titans, some stealthy as shades.
When push came to shove, they didn’t give ground;
When faced with old terrors, new courage they found

On a lonely hill, to the bone all chilled,
Through sheer force of will, they watch us still.

To pay back the way that they lay down their lives
Let’s honour and treasure our husbands and wives,
Raise God-fearing children with love and respect,
And give them a place they’ll be proud to protect.

Let them know, that you love them so,
So their hearts will glow as into the night they go.

Did you know?

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Today is my nineteenth wedding anniversary. I wrote and sang this song to her for the occasion:

Did you know?

Did you know, when you go,
In my heart you leave a hole?
My life isn’t full without you,
You’re worth more to me than gold.
When you smile, for a while,
I feel like I can fly;
It’s like heaven’s doors are opened,
For you I’d walk a hundred miles.

My heart is ever open
To you, my precious one;
Every time I bring you joy
It is the greatest prize I’ve won.
The day you said you were mine
I truly came alive;
I can’t imagine how to live
Without you by my side.

All the stars, with their cars,
And their hotel rooms and bars,
Are just wandering empty souls,
They don’t have half the joy that’s ours.
I’m so blessed to possess
A companion on our quest
To raise our children strong enough
To cope with every test

My heart is ever open
To you, my precious one;
Every time I bring you joy
It is the greatest prize I’ve won.
The day you said you were mine
I truly came alive;
I can’t imagine how to live
Without you by my side.

Yet here you are, my shining star,
I love you just as you are.

I will make a recording of the song available sometime in the near future.

(I neglected to post the song I wrote for her birthday a few weeks ago, I’ll post that next week).

Alma Deutscher, the Superversive and the Importance of Beauty in Art

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Alma Deutscher is a world-famous musical prodigy and composer, who at the age of 15 has already composed full orchestral concertos and even a full opera, with her music having being performed together with major orchestras and in major venues such as this recent performance at Carnegie Hall:

The piece is wonderful, but I found her introduction especially interesting, since it could have come straight from the Superversive Literary Movement’s mission statement:

“Some people told me that melodies are no longer acceptable in serious classical music. Because in the twenty-first century, music must reflect the ugliness of the modern world. Well, in this waltz, instead of trying to make my music artificially ugly in order to reflect the modern world, I went in exactly the opposite direction! I took some ugly sounds from the modern world, and I tried to turn them into something more beautiful through music.”

Another similar quote from almost three years earlier, when she was 12, puts it even more succinctly:

“Let me tell you a huge secret. I already know that the world is complex and can be very ugly. But I think that these people just got a little bit confused. If the world is so ugly, then what’s the point of making it even uglier with ugly music?”

The transformation of ugliness into beauty, the magical nature of beauty in art, and the desire to rebel against today’s pretentious fashionistas of foulness and lifeless drudgery with true and worthwhile art is the sign of a healthy mind and genuine artist.

A single flower poking through a crack in a vast concrete landscape, a small act of kindness in the midst of horrific war, innocence being protected from a depraved mob—each far outshines its surroundings and transforms the whole scene into something uplifting and inspiring—no wonder our intellectual jailers put so much effort into polluting, smothering and drowning out all glimpses of beauty, all glimmers of hope, all echoes of the truth, because just one breath of fresh, pure air will undo all of their work to enslave and convince the world that there is no point in resisting, nothing worthwhile to aim for, no meaning to be found in life.

That is why we as Superversives applaud Alma for her stand, and strive to create beauty, serve the truth and bring hope through our creations, whether they be poetry, prose, song, story, painting, sculpture, or any other art form.

The source of all beauty, hope, truth and love stands with us, and He is stronger than the world.

 

*update* found the source of the second quote and added the video

Warrior: Embraced by David Hallquist

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War is spreading across the solar system over the prize that Brandt Wills just found. Could the key to ending this conflict be on blood-soaked Mars?

In a stolen alien ship together with the only other victim of Singularity he’s managed to rescue, Brandt and Psyche journey to war-torn Mars, beckoned there by an ancient alien presence and lured by tales of a massive recently uncovered structure that could be the source of Singularity’s power. Every major navy in the solar system is heading there after them, so things are about get ugly, fast.

The spectacular conclusion to David Hallquist’s epic Singularity War Trilogy is available now from Theogony Books.

Land of the Free

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A little something for my American Readers:

Land of the Free

When brave men fought to free their homes,
Spat in a tyrant’s eye,
And built a land where all can rest
Under the clear blue sky:

Free to live and build and grow
As their Creator made them;
With honour, grace and fortitude,
Grateful He had saved them.

Defending a true liberty
With rights and duties twinned;
No communal punishments
For your ancestor’s sins,

No right to rule through noble blood,
No foul subhuman castes,
Their later fight to free all slaves
Would complete this task.

One set of laws for everyone,
Whoever they may be;
Each person’s work and character
Brings wealth or poverty.

A nation built on virtue
Without it cannot stand;
Now celebrate and fight to keep
The glories of this land.

Fathers That Know the Father

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By reader’s request, I am reposting this piece for Father’s Day.

This is another commissioned work, this time in connection with the Art and Craft of Writing Kickstarter. The poem includes numerous inside jokes, personal memories and details of family history provided by the client, a wife and mother wishing to honour her aging father (and from what she told me about him, he is more than worthy of such a gift), hence some of the curious asides and word choices. I hope that general readers will still find it enjoyable and uplifting.

Fathers That Know the Father

Fathers that know the Father are such a special breed,
Though success in their endeavours is far from guaranteed;
They are not granted super strength, immunity from harm,
Super speed, astounding wealth or overpowering charm;

What they do receive instead is far more precious still,
A spirit touched with grace and a calling to instil
A love of God and truth and life in his children’s souls,
That they may lift their heads to aim for high and worthy goals.

Even in his absence, his influence is strong,
His loved ones know they always have a home where they belong,
Where they are known and cared for, and greeted with a smile,
Hoping that that their current stay can stretch a little while.

Far from our shores, you harnessed mighty atoms in the deep,
Ensuring that ten million children could stay safe asleep.
The sacrifices that you made leave echoes in their wake,
Clearing noble paths for other, younger feet to take.

Discipline unasked for, and even fought outright,
Is now appreciated in a wholly different light.
Prayers and verses planted in a mind when it is young
Grow into fruitful wisdom that flows in its own tongue.

Standing at attention while my tidying was checked
Has led to strong self-discipline and stronger self-respect.
You drilled me to work hard, in all things seek to learn and grow,
Aim for excellence, but never bask in my own glow.

A leader and great teacher in every port you called,
You had so many ways to keep your students all enthralled
As you passed on knowledge that was more than just a hunch,
Such as the laws of thermo forbidding a free lunch.

I wish I’d been less stubborn and took the time to hear
The wonders of the universe that you so loved to share;
When you said your expectations of me were too high it hurt;
When you took it back and were proud of me, I thought my heart would burst.

A sweeping gift you gave me on the 8th year since my birth,
And we took turns adventuring all over Middle Earth.
So many books we’d share with joy, I even got some signed;
You always were so loving, so insightful and so kind.

A fluffball called Salami nuzzled past your stubborn gates,
Moved you in a way your heart could not anticipate;
And so when perched upon your leg in good old Morro Bay,
He became the furry lord of all that he surveyed.

Our stomachs stuffed with tacos, we’d waddle up the hill,
Half-regretting extra bites when we had had our fill,
Back home to talk, to laugh, to revel in our family life;
Moments I still treasure now as a mother and a wife.

Black Mountain’s view enchanted us each time we scaled its slope,
Guests were met with signal flags along the yard arm rope,
Grandparents teaching step-ball back at 512 South Clay,
A family determined to all walk the narrow way.

Your love of God infectious, your love of us so clear,
Each time you wrote us letters it would fill our hearts with cheer.
No one on this earth could ever hope to fill your shoes;
No one we would rather join us on a fun-filled cruise.

Because of you, our families walk and prosper in the light,
Gleaming like Alaskan gems of purest tanzanite.
Whether it is of the Apes or of the Caribbean,
All of us are certain you are worthy of this paean.

You showed us what a father is, what we should aim to be,
Reflected glints of glory that shine eternally,
Helped us in our crises, gave us strength to cope,
And led us to the One who is our everlasting hope.

You taught us to be humble, to never put on airs,
And of course, most importantly, to not forget our prayers.
For this and more we’re grateful, in more ways than you know;
So in this and other ways, we’d like to let it show.